גָּזִית (ga.zit)
ga.zit
cutting
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 8 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Definition
Definition
Brown-Driver-Briggs
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word gazit refers to stones that have been carefully cut and dressed by human hands. In the ancient world, this was not just construction; it was an act of preparation. Raw rocks were rough and uneven, but cut stones fit together with precision. This image reminds us that God often works through careful preparation in our lives. Just as masons shaped stone to build a temple, He shapes our character over time.
When we look at Solomon’s Temple, the text highlights these prepared stones. They were not thrown together haphazardly but arranged with intention. This suggests that our spiritual lives are meant to be built with care and order. We do not need to be perfect immediately, but we can allow God to shape us into something sturdy and lasting.
Even in difficult times, like the lament in Lamentations, this word appears. It shows that even when paths feel blocked by hard stones, God remains the ultimate builder. Our role is to trust His craftsmanship, knowing that He uses our experiences to prepare us for His purposes. This steady shaping brings peace to those who seek Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 8 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- hewn [stone]7×
- with/ hewn [stone]1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- גָּזִ֔ית2×
- גָּזִ֖ית1×
- גָּזִ֑ית1×
- גָזִ֛ית1×
- גָזִ֔ית1×
- גָזִ֑ית1×
- בְּ/גָזִ֔ית1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 20:25
If you make me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of cut stones; for if you lift up your tool on it, you have polluted it.
This verse establishes a sacred boundary, showing that human tools must not defile the altar because God’s presence requires pure, unhindered approach.
-
I Kings 6:36
He built the inner court with three courses of cut stone and a course of cedar beams.
Here the cut stones form the inner court of the Temple, illustrating how prepared materials create a holy space for worship.
-
Lamentations 3:9
He has walled up my ways with cut stone. He has made my paths crooked.
In this poignant verse, the prophet uses cut stone as a metaphor for obstacles God places to restrict movement, highlighting divine sovereignty even in judgment.